ISSUE160 领导需要保持一致性【求拍，有拍必回】

爱上千年的猫UID: 2476232

TOPIC: ISSUE160 - "The most essential quality of an effective leader is the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives. Any leader who is quickly and easily influenced by shifts in popular opinion will accomplish little."
WORDS: 568
TIME: 00:45:00
DATE: 2010-3-16 19:44:28

When we evaluate whether a leader is effective, many factors and qualities should be taken into consideration. The speaker claims that the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives is the most essential quality. I partly agree that under some situations it is true. However, under other situations the speaker's claim would overstate the significance of this kind of ability.

First of all, we should define what are included in the expression "particular principles and objectives". On one hand, if it means the motto and long-term destination of a firm, then the leader should try their best to commit to them, since they give a clear view about how the firm should perform and what the final outcome will be. Consider the famous car manufacture that lasts over a hundred years, Ford. Its founder, Henry Ford, makes the long term objective for the firm, which is to enable every household own a mobile car. Since the set up, every leader of the firm is dedicating to achieve this objective, which in turn makes the firm famous around the world. If those leaders give at when they meet some changes in popular opinion, the Ford firm cannot be as successful as they are today.

On the other hand, if the particular principles and objectives are short-term rules and goals, it is unnecessary for the leaders to consistently committed to them. Consider the above example of Ford Company again. Along its way to achieve the final goal, leaders will set up various short-term goals at different stages. For example, when the streamline style is becoming popular, the leaders will be likely to follow the trend and postpone their former short-term objective-beat up car. In order to maintain the market share, it will not be a bad strategy. In the rapid developing commercial world, the ability of seizing the popular trend seems to be a more essential quality for business leaders.

Of course, leaders in different areas may act differently toward the shifts in popular opinion. In the areas of consuming commodities, following the changes of consumers' preference is crucial. Once the leader stops concern for the latest popular trend but only commit to the principles and final objectives, he or she is more likely to suffer from failure. Nevertheless, in the areas of politics, it is entirely a different case. The leader of the party should keep to their principles and objectives as best as they can, for these stand for the image of the party which public concern. If the leader is easily influenced by any popular opinions and quickly changes the policies, the whole nation will suffer and it will lose the trust of the people gradually.

Last but not least, we should give clear definition to the most essential quality of an effectively. As discussed above, different industries may require the ability to remain principles and objective at different extent. In deed, the most qualities required also vary from one to another. Leadership, eloquence, high standard of morality, may also be the most essential quality. Therefore, it is necessary to follow a case-to-case study.

In sum, whether the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives depends on many factors, including the time span of these principles and objectives, the areas where the leader engages in and so on. A case-to-case study is a good way to achieve a reasonable answer.